Majorca next week

[ArabellaPilkington]

Can anyone - anyone!!! - out there confirm I have this right for what is needed to travel from UK to Majorca next week please:

• both adults double vaxxed last jab a month ago. Both have downloaded the QR code Covid vacc record on phone from NHS app
  
• can either find a place in Majorca to PCR test within 3 days of return or use a UK video one eg Collinson which provides a fit to fly test after LFT - are either definitely acceptable?
  
• book a Day 2 test locally when we get back (or book when we are away for the day of return at airport?)
  

Any confirmation and recommendations really appreciated!!

[ArabellaPilkington]

You can only use the NHS app if you're in England. Talking to ppl here from Wales they can't use the app and didn't have the three weeks it takes to get a letter so had to have PCR tests even though they are double vaxxed.

Ridiculous.

[ButYouGottaHaveASkillJeff]

@ArabellaPilkington

You can only use the NHS app if you're in England. Talking to ppl here from Wales they can't use the app and didn't have the three weeks it takes to get a letter so had to have PCR tests even though they are double vaxxed.

Ridiculous.

A head's up for anyone in Scotland and needs a letter as we don't have the app either. It states 21 days but mine came in 2 and other people I know got their's very quickly.

[Amboseli]

@ArabellaPilkington thanks for reporting back from heaven! I literally cannot wait until we go but Saturday 17th feels like an age away. We're only going for 10 nights but wondering if we should try and extend somehow.

[ArabellaPilkington]

Just back - not one person at Gatwick checked anything to do w Covid.

Masses of border control staff wi nothing to do other than look menacing.

No queues and no checks - dead as a dodo.

[Mateypotatey]

Can I ask at what point did anyone check your documents outgoing, did they check at Gatwick when you left for example that you had your double jab documentation?

[hellswelshy]

Just to add to this for information- we do have access to a proof of Covid vaccination in Wales, I have mine, you need to set it up with your NHS number & passport. It's via NHS Wales.

[Habitualhonesty]

Any recommendations on where to get tests and costs? Also my son will be 11 and 11 months. Is he still exempt. Will be back 10 days before he is 12

[Amboseli]

@ArabellaPilkington seriously? No checks at all? What's the point of doing the tests?!

We're due to go on Saturday provided neither teen tests positive tomorrow when they have their tests...

Whereabouts did you go? Was everything open? How did it compare with a normal year in terms of crowds etc?

It looks like Majorca will go amber tomorrow.

[Amboseli]

@Habitualhonesty we're using Collinson at Heathrow, LAMP tests with 2 hour turnaround, £85.

I've heard they're professional and efficient but we'll find out tomorrow I guess.

[Jabbinell]

And…. its Amber.

[DarlingCoffee]

Can somebody tell me does the amber rating invalidate travel insurance? I can’t seem to find an easy answer to whether we are allowed to travel to amber countries. We are due to go to Mallorca in a few weeks with DC and am weighing up whether now whether we should go or not. Gutted.

[cptartapp]

Check what the FCO advice is. I believe if it advises don't travel then it invalidates your insurance. I don't think a country being amber alone does though?
DS flies home from Majorca tomorrow after ten days. Very lucky with the timing. They've had a great time.

[DarlingCoffee]

It looks like their advice is ‘you should not travel to Amber countries or territories’, but then it tells you what you need to do before travel to England and mentions testing etc so I am confused!

[ArabellaPilkington]

Not a sausage checked on landing at Gatwick, and minimal checks departing Palma.

The proper checks were going to Majorca - EasyJet thorough at bag drop and health check lane at Palma who checked our vaccination passes and health check QR code. All easy and efficient.

So Majorca are checking properly and the UK aren't. Shock.

Most amber countries eg Greece on the FCDO website now say it's not against advice to travel to them.

[IsabellesMissingSock]

When I arrived in the U.K. a few days ago they checked everything.

[Clouds76]

We used Collinson at Heathrow, got the LAMP tests, super slick and quick turnaround - just don’t use their chat bots for any questions, they’ll drive you you mad (see previous posts!).

On another note could anyone please help interpret some strange .gov guidance?

Currently in Majorca, flying home Tuesday. Had a feeling this would happen so not surprised but…

DH double jabbed. Kids < 18. I’m only singularly jabbed so will have to self isolate. No big deal, at least the kids can go out and I can work from home. DH can’t easily.

This is really confusing me however, as it makes it sound like the others need to quarantine with me, just because they travelled with me. Can’t find any other information online stating this but it’s how it appears here (“they travelled with you”).

Full link www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england#rules-for-the-people-youre-staying-with

Rules for the people you’re staying with
The people you’re staying with do not need to quarantine, unless:

they travelled with you
you or someone in the place where you’re staying develop symptoms of COVID-19
you get a positive test result for your day 2 or day 8 test
If any of these things apply, your household must quarantine with you, following the same rules and for the same length of time as you.

Seems a bit crazy/pointless but wondering whether it’s correct before trying to change flights. Any thoughts please? Thanks….

[Beebopawhop]

I've been searching for about one hour but have the FCO said they advise against travel to the Majorca/menorca ?

[Beebopawhop]

Glad you enjoyed it @ArabellaPilkington!! Sounds lush and I'm just going to book it anyway even though I can't find advice sod it

[Rollergirl11]

@Beebopawhop I booked a villa in Majorca on Tuesday night and then went amber yesterday. I’m hopeful we will still be able to go. DH and I double-jabbed, just have to hope the two teens don’t test positive just before we go.

For people that have just been out there, did you sort your Covid test for before your return while you were out there?

[Amboseli]

Kids had LAMP tests today, got results back in 50 mins, both negative!

Can start packing now but won't relax until we're actually in our hotel room.

[ArabellaPilkington]

Majorca is full of places you can get Covid tests - I think most hotels have mobile doctors visiting daily to do tests, we just walked in to a medical centre opposite our hotel and got one on the spot. Popped back later on for certificate as receptionist was busy - they'd had 50 patients that morning, 48 of which were for LFTs!!

Not being a corrupt gvmt like ours, there's a standard fee of 30 euros wherever you go for a LFT.

[Rollergirl11]

@Amboseli did you book your Collinson tests with an easyJet code? And did you book them before the day you were flying? We don’t live far from Heathrow so no hassle to go there the day before departure.

@ArabellaPilkington thanks for that. We are in a villa but have read on other thread that there are loads in Pollensa which is where we are going.

We aren’t going for another month. Just panicking now that cases continue to ruse and it’ll move to the red list! 😨

[Amboseli]

@Rollergirl11 didn't book with an easyJet code as not flying with easyJet.

I booked it a week in advance for around 45 hours before arrival in Majorca. I think now you've got 72 hours though.

We got the results in under an hour which meant we could start packing as soon as we got home. Definitely worth it if you're not far from Heathrow.

[Amboseli]

@ArabellaPilkington totally agree about our corrupt government and their friends profiteering from testing. £30 in Europe as opposed to £50+ here for the same test. The mark ups are huge. Disgusting.